HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Polite Kambamura as the new Minister of Mines and Mining Development, a decision announced late Monday by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya.
The appointment comes in terms of Section 104(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and follows the dramatic dismissal of former minister Winston Chitando earlier in the day.
In a brief statement dated 8 December 2025, Rushwaya confirmed the appointment, noting only the constitutional provision and the President’s authority but giving no additional context. However, the timing of the announcement – coming just hours after revelations that Chitando had been relieved of his duties – has fuelled intense speculation about the political and economic forces driving the sudden reshuffle.
Kambamura, who had previously served as Deputy Minister in the same ministry, now assumes one of the most strategically important portfolios in the country. His elevation is seen as an attempt to stabilise a ministry at the centre of fierce internal battles over mineral control, amid reports of escalating pressure from powerful business interests.
Chitando’s ouster, first reported by ZimLive, is believed to have been influenced by President Mnangagwa’s close ally Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who is reportedly seeking to consolidate greater power across the gold, chrome, and lithium value chains. The mining sector has become a lucrative battleground ahead of 2028, with major concessions, foreign investor partnerships, and artisanal mining zones increasingly shaping Zimbabwe’s political economy.
Government insiders say the Mines Ministry had become engulfed in disputes over mining claims, irregular licensing practices, and mounting allegations of politically connected individuals taking over resource-rich concessions. Sources described an “overwhelming number of complaints” involving cancelled permits and forcibly acquired gold claims, developments believed to have intensified behind-the-scenes tensions.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ZACC) unexpected visit to the Ministry on Friday has added another layer of uncertainty, with officials suggesting it may be linked to broader investigations surrounding claim allocations and undue influence from well-connected actors.
Kambamura inherits a ministry in turmoil, facing pressure to restore credibility, transparency, and stability at a time when Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth is both a lifeline for the struggling economy and a source of growing political contestation.
Analysts say his appointment signals an attempt by Mnangagwa to reassert direct control over the sector following Chitando’s fall-out with powerful economic players. Whether Kambamura will introduce meaningful reforms or simply manage an increasingly politicised mining landscape remains to be seen.
For now, his rise to the ministerial post underscores the shifting power dynamics within government—and marks the latest chapter in a rapidly unfolding story of influence, resource control, and political realignment at the heart of Zimbabwe’s mining industry.
